Cris ‘Cyborg’ Will Make 135 lb Debut; Hopes To Join UFC Next Summer

This has been one of the biggest weeks in the history of Woman’s MMA. It began with Ronda Rousey establishing herself as one of the best fighters on earth and continues with the latest news of Cris Cyborg cutting down to 135lbs.

Cyborg once said that a cut down to 135 lbs would “kill her” but it seems as though she has since changed her tune. Her manager spoke with MMAJunkie about the weight cut.

“Cyborg” Justino (12-1) is targeted for Invicta FC 10 against a TBA opponent, Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp said. She was targeted on two previous occasions to meet Ediane Gomes before injuries and event scheduling nixed the matchup. Justino could make her second appearance at 135 pounds in February or March, Knapp added.

It’s not yet decided whether Justino will vacate her current Invicta FC featherweight title, Knapp said. “Cyborg” won the title one year ago with a fourth-round TKO of Marloes Coenen.

A date is not yet set for Invicta FC 10, which is expected to stream live on UFC Fight Pass as part of the all-female MMA promotion’s multi-year deal with the UFC’s digital network.

The question of Cyborg’s weight cut remians. Will she need PEDs to drop the weight? Here was what her camp had to say:

To aid Justino’s drop from her natural featherweight class, at which she’s fought since battering Gina Carano to win the title in the now-defunct Strikeforce, manager George Prajin said she will work with Tony Aponte, a performance and conditioning specialist who’s worked with ex-UFC champ B.J. Penn and Heath Herring, among others.

Justino also is headed to Thailand at the end of the month to refine her striking skills and start the process of shedding weight, Prajin added. The ex-champ was outpointed by Jorina Baars in a muay Thai title fight this past March under the Lion Fight banner.

Dana White has said that Cyborg will have a spot on the UFC roster if she makes weight in consecutive fights, so this plan will put her in line for a UFC match in the early-summer of 2015.